Sprinkles of all things positive so we can think positive things, create positive experiences and make positive change!

Menu

Tag Archive | music

As I sit here, in the middle of the night, unable to sleep it seems that my senses are heightened a bit. I can feel the air brush over my skin as the furnace kicks in to whisk the cold away. I’m not sitting near the air vent so I’m a bit surprised by the sensation. I notice the sense that is the most attuned is my hearing. Between the thumping from my son’s cat bouncing around downstairs, to the whooshing sound as my dogs breath steadily at the edge of my bed, I feel comforted by the life that surrounds me in the night.

But the sound that delights me the most is the music coming from outside my window. My wind chimes are dancing and jingle-jangling in the night. They are beautifully matched and echoed by the lovely chimes across the street from my neighbor’s house.

There is something soothing and mystical about the sound that wind chimes make. I often think I should buy about 10 more and surround every side of my house with them. They remind me that the air is alive and that life really can make music. When I hear them sprinkling their delightful notes I image they call in the angels and accompany the choirs as they sing in heaven. It’s truly one of my favorite sounds. Tonight I believe I will use them as my focus for meditation and allow their beauty to sink into my soul and usher in the calm and the peace. And from there, if I focus on just them, they can escort me back into the sweet dreamland.

Today I was in the office and my cube-mate was playing some holiday music by consent of our small group. Most were happy and light and it was fun to hear them. Then one song came on that made me stop. I’ve heard it many times but for some reason in that moment, I found myself really, really listening as if for the first time. It was Josh Groban singing O Holy Night. His voice reverberated all the way to my soul and I was engulfed in a wave of praise and prayer. I had goose bumps and I could almost see every angel drop to their knees and join in the song. It was a tender, precious, holy moment in remembrance of an even greater holy moment.

I couldn’t pass up the chance to give you the same opportunity. And for my non-Christian friends, I hope you can simply enjoy the instrument that is his voice.

Last week I was watching a TV program with the lighting of the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center in NYC. That tree is an iconic symbol of the season in the US and over the years the lighting ceremony has turned into quite the celebration with the songs of the season. I saw some favorite singers and some newbies that come from the various singing competition shows that are ever so popular these days.

What struck me that night was that this time of year is even more joyful as it allows for songs of faith to ring out from every corner of our culture. What a blessing when I hear praise and glorification going on by some of the most famous of people. Some even unexpected people.

Recently this video has been going around FB and I wanted to share it here for your enjoyment as well. I must say the ending gave me shivers and my heart was moved – be sure to stick with it until the end!

I can’t decide if this youngest generation has so many more angelic voices or if we just have the means to hear of them now. And sometimes out of dark and bleak circumstances their light crashes through the tough exterior of life to shine with incredible clarity. Their gift and their stories are inspirational – and their talent transcends language and culture. I am astounded, in awe, and blessed in the hearing of their gift. If you know of others, I’d love for you to share their link.

For all the good I think and do … am I doing enough to be his arms, hands, words, feet, love? Are the things I know really what is coming out in the things I do. It was a good pause in my day to inspire me to do more and be more of who I want to be in order to change this world. I may not be able to do all things, but I should do all the things that I can.

JACI VELASQUEZ: “Adore”

This is such a soft, sweet song that allows me to got into a space of worship. Pure gratitude and from that stance all things are in perspective. I am inspired by this video to just remember who it is that I follow because of all He is to me and all He’s done for me. Jesus … I adore you. What a precious acknowledgement.

I share these both with you in the hopes they touch you too. Be blessed!

I was driving in the reverie of my own thoughts and prayers when I heard this song. It’s titled “Blessings” by Laura Story. It reached through the ether and radio waves and truly touched my heart.

When I had the chance to look it up I learned the story behind the song. Laura wrote this song as a result of the process she and her husband went through when he was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Many surgeries later, God graced them with healing. But the healing was not complete – it wasn’t the healing the way they wanted. Her husband lived, and has healing but also has lingering issues and disabilities. In Laura’s words, his brokeness allows God’s light to shine through him as it would stream through a cracked and broken vessel. To hear her speak of blessings, as she has come to know and understand them, has made me love the song even more.

So, for your listening pleasure, I hope this song touches your heart as it has deeply touched mine. Be blessed!

Just do “You” better than anything else. Yes, that may seem like a strange and random sentence but it’s really not. So often we choose who we will be and what we will do minute-by-minute based on the prying eyes of others. Real or imagined we decide there will be judgments made and we hesitate. In our eagerness to belong or to be seen favorably we abandon our instincts and do what others want. Or we assume we have to justify our choices and well, it’s just easier to do what is expected. I’m guilty of this occasionally but not very often. Age and maturity have helped me with this. But I see it a lot when I step back and observe others.

I saw this come to life last night even in the program American Idol (yes, I like to hear the people sing!). One contestant was swayed by his mentors to change his song choice. They “knew” exactly what he should do and why. At no time did they seem to consider why he had picked the song he did. They just steered him toward what they wanted. And he sang their choice. He said he practiced and practiced and got “okay with it.” He did just fine but there wasn’t a spark in his spirit or passion in his words. He sure didn’t seem like the same person we’ve seen week after week on this journey. He just sang it. And the judges and audience could see it. I felt a bit sorry for him because he wanted to do the right thing inside this awesome opportunity. He wasn’t being himself and it didn’t serve him.

Then a couple of singers later there was the same thing – the mentors had tried to dissuade one contestant from singing her song choice. They had her listen to a whole host of other options. But in the end she stuck with her gut. She wound up singing a song that none of the judges even recognized but she nailed it. Her conviction and her passion shone through. She had the audience rocking and singing with her. She was being herself and she showed it to the world. The tenor and reactions from all in the room were completely different for this singer.

Are you singing someone else’s song choice? Do you have a nagging feeling inside of you that something just seems off? Are you distracted by the “glittery, sparkly, delightful” allure of another choice? Do not hesitate. Stand firm and go for what YOU choose. In the end, those around you may not make the same choice but they will be able to see and feel that you are being the best YOU there is.